Removable ankle strap system  for use with high heeled shoes

ABSTRACT

A device, system and method of securing heeled footwear, and backless heeled footwear in particular, to a user&#39;s ankle in order to increase stability and enhance aesthetics. The device includes a heel loop having an elastic component that is positioned within the recessed portion of a shoe&#39;s sole, with the heel loop engaged with an ankle loop that encircles a wearer&#39;s ankle. The device is fully detachable from the footwear, and thus can be utilized with more than one shoe. The heel loop and ankle loop are semi-permanently attached in one embodiment, and fully separable in an alternative embodiment.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 61/657,092, filed Jun. 8, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shoe accessories, and more specificallyto a strap system that secures shoes to a wearer by wrapping around thewearer's ankle, and around the heel of a heeled shoe.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Most women own many pairs of high heel shoes, each chosen with aspecific look and construction. Unfortunately, many high heel shoes donot offer the support, stability needed, or the desired versatility towear for various occasions. For example, backless heels are often seenas casual shoes and provide “one look” or are very difficult to wearwith pants because the material gets caught up under the foot heel.Thus, women can either wear shoes that don't quite satisfy their needs,or attempt to modify the shoes that they like so that they are closer towhat they want fit-wise and aesthetically. However, modificationtypically involves adding a homemade permanent ankle strap, which istime consuming, and does not always achieve the desired look, inaddition to possibly damaging their high heel shoe. Alternatively, awoman might end up buying more shoes, but this is both expensive andtime consuming. Also, storing multiple pairs of shoes requires spacethat could be used for other purposes in most households.

As can be seen, there is a need for a system that allows a woman tochange the fit by securing the shoe to the foot, and offers theversatility to change the aesthetics, thereby effectively increasing ashoe collection. It is desirable that this system does not damage theunderlying shoe, and can be added or removed from heeled shoes forsubsequent use with her other heeled shoes. It is also desirable thatthis system is safe, easy to use and manufacture, one size fits all, andrenders high heeled shoes safer and easier to walk in, while providingthe wearer the versatility to embellish and “dress up” shoes adding avariety of “looks” to the footwear collection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for securing heeled footwear, and backless heeled footwear inparticular, to a user's ankle includes a heel loop connected to an ankleloop. The heel loop engages the recessed portion of the shoe sole,between the heel and the toe, and wraps around the user's heel upwardlyto engage with the ankle loop. The ankle loop encircles the wearer'sankle, and preferably includes a fastening means such as a buckle. Inthis manner the otherwise backless footwear is secured to the wearer,with the ankle being the anchor. An elasticized heel loop, or a heelloop including a segment of elastomeric material, provides tautness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a heeled sandal;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention securinga shoe to a wearer;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of a securing device;

FIG. 4 is a back view of an embodiment of the present invention securinga shoe to a wearer;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention securing a shoe to a wearer;

FIG. 6 depicts a disengaged alternative embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 depicts an engaged alternative embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a back view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention securing a shoe to a wearer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following structure numbers shall refer to the stated structuresamong the various FIGS:

10—Securing device;

11—Shoe;

12—Heel;

14—Recess;

15—Wearer;

16—Achilles;

20—Ankle loop;

22—Distal end;

25—Fastener;

27—Interface;

30—Heel loop;

32—Engagement site; and

35—Elastic.

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, conventional shoe 11 generally includes heel 12 andrecess 14. As used herein, “heel” shall refer to a distinct heel thatcreates the aforementioned recess, versus a wedge heel, or the like,which gradually tapers toward the front of the shoe. This invention isparticularly well suited for backless shoes, such as slides or mules,but can also be used with other styles including full back shoes,stilettos and boots. Wearer 15 of shoe 11 has achilles 16 in ankleregion. As used herein, “shoe” and “footwear” are used interchangeable,and include open- and closed-toe designs.

FIG. 2 depicts shoe 11 stabilized on wearer 15 by securing device 10generally including ankle loop 20 and heel loop 30, which are joined toeach other at interface 27 (not shown). Interface 27 can established bysewing, adhering, welding, hook/loop fasteners and other attachmentmethods known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, ankle loop 20 hasa greater diameter than heel loop 30, and preferably includes fastener25. As shown, fastener 25 could be a buckle, but other known fasteningdevices such as hook/loop, ties, buttons, snaps, zippers and the likecould also be used. Heel loop 30 preferably includes elastic 35, whichis positioned in recess 14 of heel 12 (FIG. 4). As used herein,“elastic” includes a variety of elastomeric materials, includingfabrics, rubbers, non-wovens, composites, and the like, which resumetheir original shape after a deforming force is removed. It is desirablethat elastic 35 is attached to remainder of heel loop 30 by conventionalmethods such as sewing or welding.

As shown in FIG. 3, securing device 10 is generally constructed withheel loop 30 offset from center of length of ankle loop 20. Moreover,ankle loop 20 is actually a segment which assumes a looped orientationwhen distal end 22 is engaged with fastener 25. While an elasticsegment, as depicted, is preferred, it is also possible to use anelasticized heel loop.

Referring to FIG. 4, a wearer positions securing device 10 by insertingheel 12 through heel loop 30, such that elastic 35 abuts recess 14 (bestshown in FIG. 2), and ankle loop 20 is wrapped around ankle of wearer.Although not labeled, it is desirable that interface 27 is positioned atachilles 16.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of securing device positioned ona wearer. It generally has a similar orientation and appearance as theembodiment of FIGS. 2-4, except, as seen in FIG. 6, ankle loop 20 isdetachable from heel loop 30. In use, unfastened ankle loop 20 isinserted into heel loop 30. This is depicted in FIG. 7. Assembled deviceis then used as previously described.

The alternative embodiment provides multiple advantages including theability to customize the fit by adjusting either ankle loop 20 or heelloop 30 on the Achilles for the perfect fit. In addition, thealternative embodiment provides the ability to interchange differentankle loops 20 and heel loops 30 in order to achieve a variety ofaesthetic effects. Additionally, if either an ankle loop 20 or heel loop30 wears out or is damaged, a user can replace only the desired part,but retain the other for further use.

As shown in FIG. 8, the upper portion of heel loop 30 preferablyincludes engagement site 32, such as a loop (shown), for receiving, andpreferably releaseably receiving, ankle loop 20.

A variety of materials can be used to construct the ankle loop 20 andheel loop 30, such as textiles, elastomeric textiles, plastics, leather,ribbon, lacing, rubber, metals, beads and combinations thereof. Ankleloop 20 can wrap around the wearer's ankle once, or multiple times, andthus the length (or diameter) may vary. It is desirable that heel loop30 has a diameter of approximately 9″-10″.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims. By way of example, a wide variety ofmaterials can be used to construct the invention. In addition, ankleloop 20 can be a variety of lengths, such that it encircles ankle onetime, or travels up the leg in accordance with the “Gladiator” style.Other modifications include adding chains, clips, and variousattachments to the ankle strap, and a variety of other embellishments.It should also be understood that ranges of values set forth inherentlyinclude those values, as well as all increments between. Also, the term“semi-permanently connected” shall mean capable of separation, butconnected with sufficient strength such that the parts would remainattached with regular use.

What is claimed is:
 1. A securing device for heeled shoes, said deviceincluding: a. An ankle loop including a fastener at one end and a distalend at another end, said fastener and distal end connectable; and b. Aheel loop including a segment of elastic, said heel loop engaged withsaid ankle loop.
 2. The securing device of claim 1 wherein said fasteneris a buckle.
 3. The securing device of claim 1 wherein said heel loop isengaged with said ankle loop at a location on said heel loop that isbetween said fastener and a location equidistant between said fastenerand said distal end.
 4. The securing device of claim 1 wherein thelength of said segment of elastic is less than half the circumference ofsaid heel loop.
 5. The securing device of claim 1 wherein the length ofsaid segment of elastic is less than half the circumference of said heelloop.
 6. The securing device of claim 1 wherein said ankle loop and saidheel loop are semi-permanently connected at an interface.
 7. Thesecuring device of claim 6 wherein said segment of elastic is positionedthe furthest possible distance from said interface.
 8. A heeled shoesystem including: a. A heeled shoe that defines a recess inwardlyadjacent to said heel; b. A heel loop removably engaged with saidrecess; and c. An ankle loop engaged with said heel loop.
 9. The heeledshoe system of claim 8 wherein said heel loop includes a segment ofelastic.
 10. The heeled shoe system of claim 8 wherein said ankle loopincludes a fastener.
 11. The heeled shoe system of claim 10 wherein saidfastener is selected from a buckle, a snap, a button, a zipper, a latch,a hook/loop fastener, and combinations thereof.
 12. The heeled shoesystem of claim 8 wherein the circumference of said ankle loop isgreater than the circumference of said heel loop.
 13. The heeled shoesystem of claim 8 wherein said ankle loop is wider than said heel loop.14. A method of securing a heeled shoe to an ankle including the stepsof: a. Positioning a heeled shoe on a foot; b. Inserting the heel ofsaid shoe through a heel loop of a securing device; and c. Securing anankle strap of said securing device around a wearer's ankle.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 wherein said step of positioning a heeled shoe on afoot includes the step of positioning a backless shoe on said foot. 16.The method of claim 14 further including the step of stretching asegment of elastic incorporated with said heel loop prior to said stepof securing said ankle strap.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein saidstep of securing an ankle strap includes the step of engaging a bucklewith a distal end of said ankle strap.